The Public Health Department of the Unified Government will provide vaccinations of the H1N1 to priority groups.

The address – 6th and Ann Avenue – will be opened from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays. On Thursdays, it's opened from 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. and later on form 3–6:30 p.m.

"Over twenty-one thousand doses of H1N1 vaccine have been allocated and distributed throughout Wyandotte County to 34 different providers," said Joe Connor, Director of the Public Health Department.  "Residents who are not in the current priority groups to receive the vaccine are asked to please be patient until more vaccine is allocated and distributed to local providers later this month and next month, at which time the vaccine may then be available to the general public. In Wyandotte County we are currently partnering with thirty-four different providers to administer the H1N1 vaccine in the community."

Priority groups include pregnant women, healthcare and emergency personnel, children aged 6 months – 24 years old, those between 25-64 who have pre-exiting conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus and people who live or provide care for infants.

For more information. contact (913) 573-6712.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed three additional deaths in relation to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus outbreak.

The total deaths in Kansas related to the virus now stands at 12.

The three deaths occurred to a 52-year-old woman from Wichita, a 39-year-old man from the Kansas City metro area and a 51-year-old from the Topeka area.

None of the victims had any previous underlying health conditions that made them more vulnerable to complications of the H1N1 flu.

“These deaths underscore the importance of doing everything that we can to protect ourselves and each other from H1N1,”said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer. “Besides vaccination and other preventive measures like frequent and thorough hand washing and properly covering coughs and sneezes, there are other steps that we can all take to significantly reduce our risk of catching and spreading flu viruses.”

A ninth death in Kansas has been linked to the H1N1 pandemic.

A 62-year-old man in northeast Kansas, who had "underlying health conditions that put him at a greater risk" for death and major complications because of the virus, had the virus and his death was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“This death reminds us that this virus can be extremely severe for people with underlying health conditions,” said Dr. Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer. “As more vaccine becomes available across the state we hope everyone who is able will choose to get vaccinated.  Until that time, it is very important that people take seriously the potential dangers of the disease and recognize the importance of working towards preventing its further spread.”

Limited qualities of the pandemic virus have arrived in Kansas.

NOTE: This column is from Jason Eberhart-Phllips (MD), a Kansas State Health Officer and Director of Health for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

This month marks the start of the largest vaccine deployment in history. As the first shipments of the H1N1 flu vaccine are arriving in Kansas, it’s worth noting that a new chapter in humanity’s long struggle with influenza viruses has begun.
 
For the first time ever, people have come together to stop a flu pandemic dead in its tracks by taking away the one thing the virus needs to survive: susceptible human hosts.
 
As the vaccine induces ever-wider immunity in the population, it promises to bend down the curve of the current epidemic, leaving the H1N1 virus with no place to go.
 
With all the attention the vaccine is getting, many Kansans are asking good questions about it. Is the vaccine really necessary? Will it work to protect me or my children against illness? How do I know it is safe?
 
A majority of Kansans have indicated that they will likely obtain the vaccine. For now they need to be patient as we await larger supplies of the vaccine in coming weeks, and as we distribute available doses initially to target groups who are at especially high risk of complications from H1N1 flu infections.
 
Meanwhile, a vocal minority has already begun an active campaign against the vaccine. Many others remain undecided about it.
 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced today the State of Kansas will receive a 16,000 initial allotment of the H1N1 flu vaccine. The amount coming to Wyandotte County is unknown yet and will be determined later.

The initial target groups who will receive the vaccine are pregnant women, those who care or live with children under the age of six months, healthcare and EMS personnel, those between the ages of 6 months – 24 years old and older adults who have a higher risk of acquiring the virus.

The vaccine will be a nasal-spray type of medication.

“We are pleased to be one step closer to receiving this new safe and effective vaccine in the state,” said Roderick Bremby, Secretary of the KDHE.  “However, Kansans should understand that initially we will only receive a very small amount and it will be several months before there will be enough to provide to everyone in the state wanting to protect themselves from this new virus.”

The KDHE is recommending that local health departments become involved in administering the vaccine, which should arrive in Kansas in the first week of October.

The KDHE will also allocate county share by 2008 population numbers of those who are 0-24 years old.

“The rationale for this recommendation is to have a practical approach to administering the vaccine most effectively within the target populations,” said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips. “The first vaccine doses we receive will be the LAIV, which will be most appropriate for the health care workers who have no underlying health conditions, and allows for the early administration to healthy two through nine year old children who will require a second dose.”

Eberhart-Phillips still stresses that Kansans seek out the basic seasonal flu shot along with the new vaccine.

A 39-year-old woman and a 30-year-old woman from Kansas have died as a result of the 2009 H1N1 virus.

The total of deaths in Kansas from the disease now is six. Lab tests confirm the two women had the virus earlier this month.

“The deaths being reported today make it very clear that this illness can be extremely severe for people with underlying health conditions,” said Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer.  “But severe complications and deaths have been reported among patients who have not had any underlying health problems that would have placed them at higher risk.  It is so critical that people take seriously the potential dangers of this disease and recognize the importance of working towards preventing further spread and receiving the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”

So far, the flu virus has hit 55 counties in Kansas and just over 1 million Americans have been confirmed with the virus so far.

Both cases occurred in northeast Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced two deaths in connection with the H1N1 flu virus this morning.

Both cases involve "northeast Kansas," but a specific county or location was not given.

A 16-year-old died from a case of the virus, along with a 30-year-old adult. Both cases were reported to the KDHE earlier this week.

“While the majority of people experience mild illness, these deaths illustrate the risk that those with underlying health conditions have when infected with the H1N1 virus,” said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer.  “It is so critical that people take seriously the potential dangers of this disease and recognize the importance of working towards preventing further spread and receiving the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”

The KDHE stresses that while these deaths occurred, most cases will generally recover in normal fashion should the necessary steps be taken.

Advice from the KDHE's press release:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• If you become sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after fever or signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, in order to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.

• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.  If you do not have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow and not your hands. 

• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.

Members of the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education were briefed on the district's situation concerning the H1N1 flu virus.

Cases are up at a handful of schools in the district, most notably Sumner Academy, Mark Twain and White Church Elementary Schools.

Exact numbers across the district were not released, but around three cases have been reported at Sumner Academy.

As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a school should not close down unless the outbreak causes a mass quality of absences or interferes with the school's daily business.

"Our team is well organized to handle the situation," said Jill Shackelford, superintendent of schools. "They've been on top of the situation."

Basic advice from various health organizations on dealing with the H1N1 flu:

• If anyone is sick, stay home from school and work.

• Wash hands often with soap and water, or any alcohol-based hand cleaners.

• Do not come in immediate physical contact with someone who may have the

• Cough into a tissue rather and cover your mouth when a sneeze is oncoming.